Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals
Motivational drives guide behaviors in animals of different species, including humans. Some of these motivations, like looking for food and water, are crucial for the survival of the individual and hence for the preservation of the species. But there is at least another motivation that is also impor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00238/full |
| _version_ | 1828525870514438144 |
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| author | Wendy Portillo Raúl G. Paredes Raúl G. Paredes |
| author_facet | Wendy Portillo Raúl G. Paredes Raúl G. Paredes |
| author_sort | Wendy Portillo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Motivational drives guide behaviors in animals of different species, including humans. Some of these motivations, like looking for food and water, are crucial for the survival of the individual and hence for the preservation of the species. But there is at least another motivation that is also important for the survival of the species but not for the survival of the individual. Undoubtedly, sexual motivation is important for individuals to find a mate and reproduce, thus ensuring the survival of the species. In species with sexual reproduction, when males find a female in the appropriate hormonal conditions, they will display sexual behavior. However, some healthy males do not mate when they have access to a sexually receptive female, even though they are repeatedly tested. These non-copulating (NC) individuals have been reported in murine, cricetid and ungulates. In humans this sexual orientation is denominated asexuality. Asexual individuals are physically and emotionally healthy men and women without desire for sexual intercourse. Different species have developed a variety of strategies to find a mate and reproduce. Most species of mammals are polygamous; they mate with one or several partners at the same time, as occur in rats, or they can reproduce with different conspecifics throughout their life span. There are also monogamous species that only mate with one partner. One of the most studied socially monogamous species is the Prairie vole. In this species mating or cohabitation for long periods induces the formation of a long-lasting pair bond. Both males and females share the nest, show a preference for their sexual partner, display aggression to other males and females and display parental behavior towards their pups. This broad spectrum of reproductive strategies demonstrates the biological variability of sexual motivation and points out the importance of understanding the neurobiological basis of sexual motivational drives in different species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:14:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-591c3bf26d4a4aac9e39fbcedc3e05c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T21:14:36Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-591c3bf26d4a4aac9e39fbcedc3e05c62022-12-22T00:50:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience1662-51532019-10-011310.3389/fnbeh.2019.00238486829Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous MammalsWendy Portillo0Raúl G. Paredes1Raúl G. Paredes2Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoEscuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoMotivational drives guide behaviors in animals of different species, including humans. Some of these motivations, like looking for food and water, are crucial for the survival of the individual and hence for the preservation of the species. But there is at least another motivation that is also important for the survival of the species but not for the survival of the individual. Undoubtedly, sexual motivation is important for individuals to find a mate and reproduce, thus ensuring the survival of the species. In species with sexual reproduction, when males find a female in the appropriate hormonal conditions, they will display sexual behavior. However, some healthy males do not mate when they have access to a sexually receptive female, even though they are repeatedly tested. These non-copulating (NC) individuals have been reported in murine, cricetid and ungulates. In humans this sexual orientation is denominated asexuality. Asexual individuals are physically and emotionally healthy men and women without desire for sexual intercourse. Different species have developed a variety of strategies to find a mate and reproduce. Most species of mammals are polygamous; they mate with one or several partners at the same time, as occur in rats, or they can reproduce with different conspecifics throughout their life span. There are also monogamous species that only mate with one partner. One of the most studied socially monogamous species is the Prairie vole. In this species mating or cohabitation for long periods induces the formation of a long-lasting pair bond. Both males and females share the nest, show a preference for their sexual partner, display aggression to other males and females and display parental behavior towards their pups. This broad spectrum of reproductive strategies demonstrates the biological variability of sexual motivation and points out the importance of understanding the neurobiological basis of sexual motivational drives in different species.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00238/fullsexual motivationpolygamymonogamywanderernon-copulating malesasexuality |
| spellingShingle | Wendy Portillo Raúl G. Paredes Raúl G. Paredes Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience sexual motivation polygamy monogamy wanderer non-copulating males asexuality |
| title | Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals |
| title_full | Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals |
| title_fullStr | Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals |
| title_short | Motivational Drive in Non-copulating and Socially Monogamous Mammals |
| title_sort | motivational drive in non copulating and socially monogamous mammals |
| topic | sexual motivation polygamy monogamy wanderer non-copulating males asexuality |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00238/full |
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